Print the worksheets before contacting a therapist or going to an intake appointment, then use the prompts to compare counsellors, prepare first-session notes and put therapy goals into words. The materials by choosingtherapy.com bring together practical therapy worksheets, counselling preparation tools, therapist consultation questions, mental health intake planning, goal-setting prompts and a printable workbook for adults, older teens and people supporting someone as they begin online therapy, in-person counselling or psychotherapy.
First Therapy Session Worksheet and Intake Planner
Print it before an initial counselling or therapy appointment and use the prompts to note personal concerns, symptoms, goals and questions. It is especially suited to adults or older teens starting therapy for the first time, returning after a break, or feeling anxious about what to say in a first counselling session, intake appointment, mental health assessment or talking therapy consultation.
The planner explains likely intake forms, including contact details, insurance information, mental health history, current symptoms, consent, fees, billing and confidentiality. It then gives writing prompts around difficult thoughts, emotions, behaviours, memories, stressful situations and relationships, followed by goals for changes in how someone thinks, feels, acts, copes with stress and approaches relationships.
There is also a section on what may happen during the first therapy session, such as discussing the therapist’s approach, confidentiality, safety, diagnosis if relevant, treatment planning, session frequency and possible homework. Space is included for notes, therapy goals, concerns to raise next time and questions for the next appointment, with additional signposting to online therapy, psychiatry, mental health apps and specialist treatment options. By choosingtherapy.com.
How to Choose a Therapist Worksheet and Questions
Preparing for a first therapy consultation can feel more manageable when you have a clear checklist of what to ask and what matters to you. The worksheet helps people looking for a therapist, counsellor, psychotherapist or online therapy provider to record whether a clinician has experience with concerns such as anxiety, trauma, grief, addiction, self-harm, relationship difficulties, ADHD, autism, OCD, PTSD, depression, eating concerns and bipolar disorder.
It also covers therapy types and treatment approaches, including CBT, DBT, EMDR, ERP, ACT, psychodynamic therapy and person-centred therapy. There are sections for identity and lived experience, such as race, culture, gender identity, sexuality, religion, disability, age, finances and neurodiversity, making it especially useful for people who want an affirming therapist or specialist support.
Later pages focus on practical therapy questions, including online or in-person sessions, insurance, EAP sessions, sliding scale fees, missed appointment costs and availability. The consultation prompts can be used at home before contacting therapists, during a phone call, or in a support session with a GP, social worker, care coordinator or trusted helper. By choosingtherapy.com.
Printable How to Start Therapy Workbook for Adults
The therapist matching checklist helps you identify the concerns, diagnoses, therapy approaches, identity factors, availability, and costs that matter before booking a consultation. It includes prompts about anxiety, trauma, grief, stress, ADHD, depression, OCD, PTSD, CBT, DBT, EMDR, ACT, insurance, sliding scale fees, online sessions, in-person appointments, and Employee Assistance Plans.
People starting therapy can use the pages at home before contacting a counsellor, or bring them into an initial therapy session to make the conversation feel more organised. The questions for potential therapists cover credentials, treatment plans, session structure, therapy homework, confidentiality, and whether the therapist feels respectful, validating, and a good personality fit.
Alongside the therapist selection pages, the workbook introduces therapy goals, first session planning, and expressing feelings, making it useful for new clients, support workers, counsellors, wellbeing practitioners, and anyone helping someone prepare for mental health support. By choosingtherapy.com.
Therapy Goals Worksheet for Starting Therapy Sessions
Therapy goal setting is the main theme of this printable mental health worksheet, with space to reflect on the problem that led someone to seek therapy, why now feels like the right time, and what they most want to work on. It supports people who are preparing for counselling, psychotherapy, online therapy, or a first therapy session and need help turning thoughts, feelings, worries, stress, relationship difficulties, work issues, or coping concerns into words.
The worksheet includes open writing boxes plus sentence starters such as “I can’t stop thinking about”, “I feel stuck because”, “I would start”, “I would stop”, and “I want to improve”. These prompts make it practical for adults, older teens, new therapy clients, counsellors, therapists, social workers, and support workers who want a simple treatment planning tool for sessions, intake appointments, or home reflection.
Additional pages point users towards different types of mental health support, including online therapy, psychiatry, mental health apps, therapist directories, couples therapy, LGBTQ+ therapy options, teen therapy, and treatment options for anxiety, depression, and OCD. By choosingtherapy.com.
